Danger may linger but surf, rip currents may ease today

Brian Dalton of Belmar enjoys some morning surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Charles Vanderlinde enjoys some early morning surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Nick DeLisa of Belmar heads to the beach and a break from surfing. .Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

A family tries to set up its umbrella in the heavy winds coming from Cristobal. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Brian Dalton of Belmar enjoys some morning surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Brian Dalton of Belmar enjoys some morning surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Brian Dalton of Belmar enjoys some morning surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Camera enthusiasts as well as surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

Nick DeLisa of Belmar rides a wave in to finish his morning of surfing. Surfers take advantage of the bigger waves caused by the passing of Cristobal off the coast to do some early morning surfing in Belmar NJ on August 28, 2014. Peter Ackerman / Staff Photographer. (Photo: Gannett)

The rip current threat — high Thursday and much of the week — will also ease, according to the National Weather Service. But the risk may approach moderate early today if Cristobal's swells take longer to subside than anticipated.

"My fear is the surfers, a lot of times when they have their board, they feel like they're OK and if their leash breaks, they're in trouble," she said, adding that she's concerned about surfers after hours.

Onshore winds and Cristobal led to a harrowing week featuring dangerous rip currents, heavy surf and hundreds of rescues at the Jersey Shore. A South Plainfield teenager died after a wave knocked him over on Sandy Hook and a rip current dragged him offshore.

Lifeguards posted red flags and banned swimming Thursday at some beaches, where the big waves generally broke offshore and foamy whitewater often blanketed the ocean closer to shore. Later in the day, some lifeguards posted yellow flags and allowed people to wade as the tide dropped and the Atlantic settled down a bit.

Avery Alexander, a 19-year-old Asbury Park lifeguard, said Thursday morning that "it's a struggle to stay in one place out there, even if you're just standing in the water."

Alexander recounted what happened to a lifeguard who went swimming that morning. The guard said when a set of waves arrived, "they drag you to the bottom of the ocean and he said he had a hard time finding his way back to the top," Alexander said. "He said three waves came by and if there was a fourth, he doesn't know what he would have done."

He called it one of the five worst summers for rip currents and wave action in his 29 years as a Seaside Park lifeguard.

"Play it smart, swim in front of a lifeguard, do the right thing," he said. "It's been pretty bad."

Bob Tormollan, Lavallette Beach Patrol captain, reported 6- to maybe 7-foot waves and "lots of rips all over the place."

"We had a few (rescues since Sunday), but nothing major," he said. "When the water's bad like this, we always keep somebody down by the water, the swimming area, or in the water, so we're always close to the people and try to head 'em off at the pass."

"We've really only had a few days of relatively very calm water all summer," he said. "This past week and a half has been a consistent rough."

At Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch, lifeguards have made 80 rescues since Sunday and 182 this year — the most in five years, said Mike Tomaino, lifeguard supervisor.

"Always swim near a lifeguard and if you find yourself in a rip current, people don't drown because they can't swim, they drown because they panic," he said. "Remain cool. Swim parallel to shore and no matter what, do not panic. Wave for a lifeguard to assist you."

In Loch Arbour, surfers enjoyed very powerful waves.

"It's like a classic New Jersey day," said Dan Cesareo, 36, who grew up in Belmar and lives in Montclair. We "only get a couple of these a summer. A lot of water moving, though."

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)

ASB 0829 SB RIP CURRENTS Friends from North Jersey brace for a wave as rough surf and rip currents from Hurricane Cristobal out in the Atlantic, sends strong winds and high waves to the Jersey Shore in Sea Bright, Thursday, August 28, 2014. Mary Frank/Staff Photographer (Photo: Gannett/Mary Frank)